The Tribune

The Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) is continuing to undertake a series of water supply improvements on several Family Islands.

The Corporation has signed a $1.69m contract with Bahamas Hot Mix to extend and improve water supply to San Salvador after a tender process that started in August. The scope of works - which will impact communities from Cockburn Town to Sandy Point - consists of the supply and installation of over nine miles of water main and 160 service connections and works are expected to take eight months to complete.

WSC chairman Leslie Miller indicated that “the project will provide high quality piped water service to some areas of San Salvador for the first time and is a part of the Government’s commitment to provide for the needs of its citizens throughout the Family Islands”.

The project is part of the recently approved $41m programme, which is partially funded with $28m from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

In addition to San Salvador, the Water Supply Improvement Project will also address needs in Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Long Island, New Providence and South Andros. A contract for South Andros was signed in November and the New Providence components are expected to be completed next month.

Additionally, WSC signed an Engineering Services Consultancy contract with ACO JV (Bahamas) Ltd for the construction supervision of the CDB Water Supply Improvement projects. The joint venture consists of three Bahamian firms - Caribbean Civil Group Ltd, Operational Management & Engineering Services Ltd and Applied Consulting and Engineering Ltd - and the contract signing follows a tender process that started in June.

Services under the contract include procurement advisory, review and approval of designs and supervision of construction activities, to ensure construction of the project infrastructure to a high quality. Another critical aspect of the consultancy is to ensure that environmental impacts are mitigated, and that climate change considerations are taken into account during the design and execution of the works.

The contracts for remaining CDB Water Supply Improvement Projects are anticipated to be signed throughout 2017. These will cover infrastructure works in Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera and Long Island in addition to other associated services.